Fuel gasification for internal combustion engines

ABSTRACT

A system and method is provided adapted to utilize low-grade liquid fuel in an internal combustion engine providing a gasification chamber and a method for introducing the low-grade liquid fuel into the gasification chamber while at the same time directing a portion of the engine exhaust products to the gasification chamber for direct mixture with the liquid fuel to gasify the liquid fuel and thereafter conducting the fuel to the engine system. There is also provided a system for additional indirect heating of the liquid fuel by circulating a portion of the engine exhaust products to the gasification chamber without direct mixture with the fuel, and auxiliary heat to provide gasification of the liquid fuel on start-up. Air may also be introduced into the gasification chamber and, preheated.

United States Patent Reichhelm 154] FUEL GASIFICATION FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES [72] lnventor: Robert Reichhelm, 155 LePore Drive,

Lancaster, Pa. 17602 [22] Filed: Jan. 14, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 2,880

[ 1 June 6,1972

3,306,273 2/1967 Dolphin ..123 133 3,380,442 4/1968 Johnson ..123/1 19 Ax 3,421,485 1/1969 Fessenden 123/1 19 A Primary ExaminerAl LawrenceSmith Attorney-Bryan, Parmelee, Johnson & Bollinger [5 7] ABSTRACT Asystem and method is provided adapted to utilize low-grade liquid fuelin an internal combustion engine providing a gasification chamber and amethod for introducing the low-grade liquid fuel into the gasificationchamber while at the same time directing a portion of the engine exhaustproducts to the gasification chamber for direct mixture with the liquidfuel to gasify the liquid fuel and thereafter conducting the fuel to theengine system. There is also provided a system for additional indirectheating of the liquid fuel by circulating a portion of the engineexhaust products to the gasification chamber without direct mixture withthe fuel, and auxiliary heat to provide gasification of the liquid fuelon start-up. Air may also be introduced into the gasification chamberand, preheated.

9 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDJUH 6 m2 3.667, 436

I NVEN TOR.

ROBERT REICHHELM BY ATTORNEY FUEL GASIFICATION FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINES PROBLEM AND PRIOR ART Heretofore fuel in a liquid state has beenused to operate conventional internal combustion engines. The fuelmixture was effected either by atomization of the liquid fuel intominute liquid droplets and combining the required air therewith asoccassioned in conventional carburetors, or by injecting the liquid fueland air mixture directly into the cylinders by various known fuelinjectors. In multi-cylinder engines equal distribution of fuel to therespective cylinders by these known fuel supply means was difficult, ifnot impossible to achieve. This was because it was extremely difficultto control the amount of atomized fuel or fuel droplets contained in theair being mixed therewith. As a result some cylinders would receive arich mixture whereas others would receive a lean mixture. For thisreason the smoothness of engine operation was adversely affected.

Also in the past is was generally impossible to satisfactorily operatean internal combustion engine on low grade fuel such as fuel oil.However, efforts have been made to discover a satisfactory manner inwhich to utilize low grade fuels e.g. fuel oil, to operate internalcombustion engines. Some success has been achieved in running gasolineengines with fuels such as kerosene or light fuel oil, e.g. No. 2 oil.However, all of these known efforts required the use of gasoline onstart-up, and thereafter switching over to the lower grade fuels whenthe engine became hot.

OBJECTS An object of this invention is to provide for the gasificationof liquid fuel prior to the mixing with combustion air and distributionof the fuel mixture to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine.

Another object is to provide for the gasification and carburetion of lowgrade fuels, such as liquid fuel oil, for use in operation on internalcombustion engines.

Another object is to provide for the gasification of liquid fuel foroperating an internal combustion engine, and utilizing the waste heat ofthe hot engine exhaust gases to effect the gasification of the liquidfuel.

Another object is to provide for use with an internal combustion enginea carburetor for effecting the gasification of liquid fuel by directheat transfer between the waste heat of the hot engine exhaust gases andthe liquid fuel.

Another object of this invention is to effect the gasification of liquidfuel for'operating an internal combustion engine by mixing the liquidfuel with predeterminate amounts of preheated air and hot engine exhaustgases whereby the heat of both the preheated air and hot engine exhaustgases directly mixes with and effects gasification of the liquid fuel toform a homogeneous fuel mixture.

Another object of this invention is to provide for the gasification ofliquid fuel prior to mixing with combustion air to form a substantiallyhomogeneous fuel mixture.

Another object is to provide for the gasification and carburetion ofliquid fuel in an internal combustion engine where the feed of thegasified fuel mixture to the respective cylinders of the engine isinduced by the negative pressure resulting from operation of the engine.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a methodand apparatus for effecting the gasification and carburetion of a liquidfuel to provide a homogeneous combustible fuel mixture for effecting thedistribution of combustible fuel mixtures of uniform richness to therespective cylinders of a multi-cylinder, internal combustion engine,and/or for effecting the operation of internal combustion engines onfuels which are lower graded than gasoline. The invention contemplatesutilizing in conjunction with an internal combustion engine a gasifyingchamber in which liquid fuel is supplied in predetermined amounts. Aportion of the hot engine exhaust gases is tapped oh the engine manifoldand directed into the gasifying chamber where it is intimately mixedwith the liquid fuel therein. The waste heat of the hot exhaust gases isutilized to effect the gasification of the liquid fuel within thegasifying chamber. This is achieved by the exhaust gases raising thetemperature of the liquid fuel totemperatures ranging between 600 and1,000 F. The hot gaseous fuel mixture on leaving the gasifying chamberis mixed with predetermined amounts of combustion air to form ahomogeneous combustible gaseous fuel mixture.

An auxiliary electrically energized heater is operatively associatedwith the gasifying chamber to supply the necessary heat to the liquidfuel to effect gasification thereof on start-up or cold start.

The gasification of the fuel is enhanced by having the hot engineexhaust gases externally heat the gasifying chamber prior to mixing withthe liquid fuel within the chamber. Also preheated air may be introducedinto the chamber to mix with the hot exhaust gases and gasifying fueltherein.

FEATURES A feature of this invention resides in the provision of amethod and apparatus wherein low grade fuel, e.g., fuel oil, can beutilized as a satisfactory fuel for operating internal combustiongasoline engines.

Another feature resides in the provision of a gasifying chamberoperatively associated with the exhaust manifold of an internalcombustion engine whereby the hot exhaust gases of the engine areutilized to effect the heating of the liquid fuel to transform it into asubstantially gaseous state.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of acarburetor in which liquid fuel is gasified and mixed with predeterminedamounts of hot engine exhausts and/or preheated air in proportionalamounts to form a homogeneous fuel mixture.

Another feature of this invention is to provide the gasification chamberor carburetor with an electrically energized auxiliary heater foreffecting the gasification of liquid fuel on start up ofthe engine.

Another feature. of the invention resides in' the provision that themethod and apparatus permits operation of an engine on a multiplicity offuels ranging from highoctane aviation gas down through kerosene, jetfuel, diesel fuel and No. 2 fuel oil.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent whenconsidered in view of the drawings and specification in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus embodying theinvention as applied to an internal combustion engme.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION To improve the distribution of fuel of uniformrichness to the respective-cylinders of a multi-cylinder internalcombustion engine and thereby improve the smoothness of operation ofsuch engine, the present invention contemplates the transformation ofliquid fuel into a substantially gaseous state to form a homogeneousgaseous fuel mixture for delivery to the respective cylinders of aninternal combustion engine. Referring to the drawing, there isillustrated an internal combustion engine 10 of conventionalconstruction, e.g. an automobile gasoline engine. For convenience theengine 10 is illustrated as a four cylinder in-line engine. However, itwill be understood that the specific construction of the engine doesvform of an enclosure having a partition member 16 subdividing thereceptacle into a gasifying chamber 17 and a juxtapositioned heatingchamber 18. A fuel line 19, connecting to a tank or reservoir of liquidfuel (not shown) supplies liquid fuel to the interior of the gasifyingchamber 17. If desired a suitable valve or throttle means 20 isinterposed in the fuel line 19 to proportion or control the liquid fuelflow to the gasifying chamber.

The liquid fuel within the chamber is gasified, i.e., raised to atemperature ranging between 600 and 1,000 F by heating the liquid fuelwith the hot exhaust gases of the engine. This is attained by tapping aportion of the exhaust gases from the exhaust manifold 11 and deliveringthe tapped exhaust gases to the gasifying chamber 17 where the hotexhaust gases are intimately mixed with the gasifying fuel.

The receptacle 15 is connected to the manifold tap 11A by a first branchor conduit 21 which directs the exhaust gases to the heating chamber.The heat of the hot exhaust gases entering chamber 18 thus externallyheats the bottom or partition 16 of the gasifying chamber 17. From theheating chamber 18 the exhaust gases exit at outlet 22 to which a secondbranch or conduit 23 is connected for directing the exhaust gases to theinterior of the gasifying chamber through a Tee 24. A suitable controlvalve 25 is disposed in conduit 23 to control the flow of exhaust gasesto chamber 17;

Connected to outlet 22 is an exhaust tap 26 and connected tap conduit 27for bleeding off a portion of the exhaust gases flowing to the gasifyingchamber 17 through branch 23. Coiled about the exhaust tap conduit 27 isa coil 28 having an inlet end 28A and an outlet end28B connecting intothe upper end of Tee 24. It will be understood that inlet end 28A isopen to atmosphere or other source of air supply, and the outlet end 283communicates with the interior of the gasifying chamber. Disposed inline 288 is a control valve or throttle 29 to control the air flowtherethrough. About coil 28 there may be disposed a casing or housing30. The structure described within casing 30 thus defines an air heaterin which air flowing through coil 28 is heated by indirect heat transferby the flow of hot exhaust gas flowing through the tap conduit 27A andexhausting, e.g. to atmosphere.

Depending upon the speed of the engine, the temperature of the exhaustgases being tapped off the manifold 11 at 11A ranges between 700 and1,400" F.

As illustrated the hot exhaust gases are first used to externally heatthe gasifying chamber 17 with a portion thereof being directlyintroduced into the gasifying chamber to cause the liquid fuel to reachtemperatures ranging between 600 and l,000 F, astate of substantialgasification. The remaining portion of the circulating exhaust gasestapped off at 26 is utilized to preheat the air in the air heater 30.The air thus heated may be introduced into the gasifying chamber 17 tofunction as cleansing air. and also to impart some heat to the gasifyingfuel within chamber 17. The introduction of heated air into thegasifying chamber 17, it has been noted, tends to minimize residue byinhibiting cracking of the fuel. If cracking occurred, undesirableresidue would tend to accumulate within the chamber 17. Thus thepreheated air tends to keep the chamber 17 clean. Sufficient exhaustgases should be tapped off at 26 so as to insure heating of the air inair heater 30 to a temperature in excess of 600 F. This is to prohibitany condensation of the gasifying fuel within chamber 17 when the heatedcleansing air is introduced into the chamber to mix with the fuel.

From the structure thus described the liquid fuel introduced into thegasifying chamber is intimately mixed with the hot exhaust gases of theengine and highly heated thereby to form a homogeneous fuel mixture.When heated air is also introduced into chamber 17, it too becomes mixedwith the gasified fuel. By proportioning the respective flow of liquidfuel, exhaust gases and heated air by valves 20, 25 and 29 respectively,the homogeneous make-up of the gasified fuel mixture can be controlled.

Formed in the top of the gasifying chamber 17 is an outlet 17A to whichthere is connected a distributing means 31 by which the gasified fuelmixture formed in chamber 17 is conducted to the fuel inlet 13 of theengine. As shown the distributing means includes a mixing Venturi 32wherein the gasified fuel mixture formed in the gasifying chamber ismixed with the necessary air to form the combustible fuel mixture thatis delivered to the respective cylinders of the engine 10. The Venturimixer 32 may comprise a standard air to gas mixer. Connected to theinlet end 32A of the Venturi mixer 32 is an open conduit 33 throughwhich combustion air is sucked. Disposed in conduit 33 is a valve orbutterfly 34 to control the air flow therethrough. The outlet end 32B ofthe Venturi mixer 32 connects to the fuel line 35 connecting to the fuelinlet 13.

In order to provide a cold start up means, an auxiliary heater isprovided with the gasifying chamber 17. In the illustrated embodimentthe auxiliary heater is illustrated as a glow plug 36 projecting intothe chamber 17. The plug is connected to a suitable source ofanelectrical supply as e.g. a 6, 12 or 24 Volt DC. source, when the systemis used in a car or the like. Connected in circuit with the heater 36 isa suitable switch so that the heater can beenergized at will. When thesystem herein described is used in a car, the switch may be positionedon the dash board adjacent the ignition, or may be built into theignition. It will be understood that a band type heater or othersuitable heating means may be employed in lieu of the glow plug 36 toeffect cold starting as will be hereinafter described.

The operation of the apparatus described is as follows:

To start the engine, the switch (not shown) for energizing the glow plug36 is actuated. When actuated, the glow plug or heater 36 is energizedand heats the liquid fuel being introduced into the gasifying chamber 17through fuel line 19. As the temperature within chamber 17 builds up to600 F the liquid fuel commences to gasify. As the engine is turned over,as by stepping on a starter, the negative pressure caused within theengine thereby causes a portion of the gasified fuel to be withdrawnfrom chamber 17 and combined withcombustion air being sucked in throughconduit 33 of the Venturi mixer 32 to form a homogeneous gas or fuelmixture. As this mixture is delivered to the respective cylinders of theengine and is fired, the engine is started.

When the engine has started operating, the heater is deenergized, andthe hot exhaust gases resulting from the running of the engine are usedas the heat source for continuing the gasification of the liquid fuelwithin chamber 17. Due to the negativepressures developed by the runningof the engine a portion of the hot exhaust gases is sucked out from themanifold tap 11A and directed through conduit 21 to the heating chamber18 to supply some external heat to chamber 17. From chamber 18 theexhaust gases flow through branch 23 to the higher pressure area withinthe gasifying chamber where they are intimately mixed with the liquidfuel, the heat of the exhaust gases effecting the gasification of theliquid fuel by direct heat transfer. The portion of the exhaust gasesbled off at 26 is utilized in the heater 30 to the heat cleansing airflowing through coil 28.

With the construction described and the method of effecting thegasification of liquid fuel herein set forth, it has been discoveredthat low grade fuel such as No. 2 fuel oil can be satisfactorilyutilized to operate a standard internal combustion engines whichheretofore could only satisfactorily operate on gasoline. Also thedevice 14 described permits the operation of an engine on a multiplicityof fuels ranging from high octane aviation fuel down through kerosene,jet fuel, diesel fuel and fuel oil.

Smoothness of engine performance results in that a homogeneous fuelmixture of uniform richness can be supplied to the respective cylindersof a multi-cylinder engine. By effecting gasification of the liquidfuel, the fuel can be more intimately mixed with the necessarycombustion air to effect more efficient combustion with resultingeconomy of fuel.

Also when the structure described is used to operate an engine on fueloil, the engine can be started and operated on fuel oil alone. Thusgasoline is not needed on start-up, as was heretofore required.

While the invention has been described with respect to a particularembodiment thereof, it will be readily appreciated and understood thatvariations and modifications may be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A system adapted to utilize a low-grade liquid fuel in an internalcombustion engine including,

an internal combustion engine having an exhaust manifold and a fuelinlet,

a gasification chamber connected to said engine for effecting thetransformation of said liquid fuel to a gaseous fuel prior to thedistribution of said fuel to said fuel inlet,

a fuel conduit connected to said chamber for introducing liquid fuelinto said chamber in predetermined amounts,

exhaust conducting means connected between said exhaust manifold andsaid chamber for directing a portion of said engine exhaust into saidchamber for direct mixture with said liquid fuel where the heat of saidexhaust is utilized to effect gasification of said liquid fuel,

means for connecting said chamber to said fuel inlet for directing thegasified fuel from said chamber to said fuel inlet,

means disposed within said last-named connecting means for permittingcombustion air to mix with said gasified fuel to form a combustiblemixture as said gasified fuel is directed to said inlet.

2. The system of claim 1 including a preheating chamber adjacent saidgasification chamber said exhaust conducting means having a first branchconnecting the exhaust manifold of said engine to said preheatingchamber for preheating said gasification, and a second branch connectingsaid preheating chamber to said gasification for directing the exhaustgases directly to said gasification to intimately mix with and gasifysaid liquid fuel by direct heat transfer therebetween.

3. The system of claim 2 including an air preheater operativelyconnected to said gasification whereby a portion of the exhaust gasesdirected to said gasifying means is utilized to preheat air,

and means directing said preheated air to said gasification tointermingle and impart heat to said liquid fuel within said chamber.

4. The system of claim 3 including an air preheater means connected tosaid second branch whereby a portion of the exhaust gases flowingtherethrough is tapped to supply heat to said air heater means,

and a hot air line connecting said air preheater to said gasificationfor directing the preheated air to said gasification.

5. The system of claim 2 including an auxiliary heater for impartingheat to said gasification to effect gasification of said liquid fuel onstart up.

6. A carburetor for use with an internal combustion engine having anexhaust manifold and a fuel inlet, said carburetor being capable ofusing low-grade liquid fuel and effecting the gasification thereof priorto the distribution of said fuel to said engine, I said carburetor meansincluding gasification chamber, a fuel conduit connected to said chamberfor introducing liquid into said chamber in predetermined amounts, anexhaust conduit connected between said exhaust manifold and saidgasification chamber, said exhaust conduit being connected between saidexhaust manifold and said gasification chamber for direct mixing withsaid fuel,

an air preheater, said air preheater including a tap condult off saidexhaust conduit for tapping off a portion of the exhaust gases flowingtherethrough,

an air heating coil disposed in heat transfer relationship about saidtap conduit,

an air line connecting the outlet of said air preheater to saidgasification chamber,

means disposed in said exhaust conduit means and hot air line to controlthe flow of the respective heated gases flowing therethrough,

a fuel conductor for directing the gasified fuel mixture from saidgasification chamber to said engine fuel inlet,

a combustion air supply disposed in communication with said fuelconductor, and means disposed within said fuel conductor for mixingcombustion air with said gasified fuel mixture to form a combustiblefuel mixture, said means utilizing the negative pressure developed bythe engine.

7. The carburetor of claim 6 including an auxiliary heater for impartingheat to said liquid fuel within said gasification chamber for effectingthe gasification of said liquid fuel on start up.

8. The carburetor of claim 6 including a heating chamber juxtaposedadjacent said gasification chamber, and

said exhaust conduit serially flowing a portion of the exhaust throughsaid heating chamber and to said gasification chamber whereby saidexhaust gases mix with and heat said liquid fuel to form a gaseousmixture.

9. A method of effecting the gasification and carburetion of a low-gradeliquid fuel to provide a gaseous combustible fuel mixture to an internalcombustion engine comprising the steps of:

supplying predetermined amounts of liquid fuel to a gasificationchamber,

effecting the gasification of said liquid fuel within said chamber bymixing therewith hot engine exhaust gases,

mixing preheated air with the gasified fuel mixture within saidgasification chamber wherein the amount of air is insufiicient tosupport combustion within said chamber,

mixing with said fuel mixture externally of said chamber predeterminedamounts of combustion air to form a combustible gaseous fuel mixture,and

directing the gasified fuel and combustion air mixture to the cylindersof an engine by means of the negative pressure developed by the engine.

1. A system adapted to utilize a low-grade liquid fuel in an internalcombustion engine including, an internal combustion engine having anexhaust manifold and a fuel inlet, a gasification chamber connected tosaid engine for effecting the transformation of said liquid fuel to agaseous fuel prior to the distribution of said fuel to said fuel inlet,a fuel conduit connected to said chamber for introducing liquid fuelinto said chamber in predetermined amounts, exhaust conducting meansconnected between said exhaust manifold and said chamber for directing aportion of said engine exhaust into said chamber for direct mixture withsaid liquid fuel where the heat of said exhaust is utilized to effectgasification of said liquid fuel, means for connecting said chamber tosaid fuel inlet for directing the gasified fuel from said chamber tosaid fuel inlet, means disposed within said last-named connecting meansfor permitting combustion air to mix with said gasified fuel to form acombustible mixture as said gasified fuel is directed to said inlet. 2.The system of claim 1 including a preheating chamber adjacent saidgasification chamber said exhaust conducting means having a first branchconnecting the exhaust manifold of said engine to said preheatingchamber for preheating said gasification, and a second branch connectingsaid preheating chamber to said gasification for directing the exhaustgases directly to said gasification to intimately mix with and gasifysaid liquid fuel by direct heat transfer therebetween.
 3. The system ofclaim 2 including an air preheater operatively connected to saidgasification whereby a portion of the exhaust gases directed to saidgasifying means is utilIzed to preheat air, and means directing saidpreheated air to said gasification to intermingle and impart heat tosaid liquid fuel within said chamber.
 4. The system of claim 3 includingan air preheater means connected to said second branch whereby a portionof the exhaust gases flowing therethrough is tapped to supply heat tosaid air heater means, and a hot air line connecting said air preheaterto said gasification for directing the preheated air to saidgasification.
 5. The system of claim 2 including an auxiliary heater forimparting heat to said gasification to effect gasification of saidliquid fuel on start up.
 6. A carburetor for use with an internalcombustion engine having an exhaust manifold and a fuel inlet, saidcarburetor being capable of using low-grade liquid fuel and effectingthe gasification thereof prior to the distribution of said fuel to saidengine, said carburetor means including gasification chamber, a fuelconduit connected to said chamber for introducing liquid into saidchamber in predetermined amounts, an exhaust conduit connected betweensaid exhaust manifold and said gasification chamber, said exhaustconduit being connected between said exhaust manifold and saidgasification chamber for direct mixing with said fuel, an air preheater,said air preheater including a tap conduit off said exhaust conduit fortapping off a portion of the exhaust gases flowing therethrough, an airheating coil disposed in heat transfer relationship about said tapconduit, an air line connecting the outlet of said air preheater to saidgasification chamber, means disposed in said exhaust conduit means andhot air line to control the flow of the respective heated gases flowingtherethrough, a fuel conductor for directing the gasified fuel mixturefrom said gasification chamber to said engine fuel inlet, a combustionair supply disposed in communication with said fuel conductor, and meansdisposed within said fuel conductor for mixing combustion air with saidgasified fuel mixture to form a combustible fuel mixture, said meansutilizing the negative pressure developed by the engine.
 7. Thecarburetor of claim 6 including an auxiliary heater for imparting heatto said liquid fuel within said gasification chamber for effecting thegasification of said liquid fuel on start up.
 8. The carburetor of claim6 including a heating chamber juxtaposed adjacent said gasificationchamber, and said exhaust conduit serially flowing a portion of theexhaust through said heating chamber and to said gasification chamberwhereby said exhaust gases mix with and heat said liquid fuel to form agaseous mixture.
 9. A method of effecting the gasification andcarburetion of a low-grade liquid fuel to provide a gaseous combustiblefuel mixture to an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of:supplying predetermined amounts of liquid fuel to a gasificationchamber, effecting the gasification of said liquid fuel within saidchamber by mixing therewith hot engine exhaust gases, mixing preheatedair with the gasified fuel mixture within said gasification chamberwherein the amount of air is insufficient to support combustion withinsaid chamber, mixing with said fuel mixture externally of said chamberpredetermined amounts of combustion air to form a combustible gaseousfuel mixture, and directing the gasified fuel and combustion air mixtureto the cylinders of an engine by means of the negative pressuredeveloped by the engine.